Introduction of nervous system

Present by/Dr .Ahmed Makki Hamid

 Nervous system
 The human nervous system, by far the most complex
system in the human body.
 The body’s primary communication and control system.
 It can be divided according to:
 Structural categories
 Functional categories
 Structural divisions of the nervous system
 Central nervous system (CNS)
 Brain and spinal cord.
 Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
 Cranial nerves (nerves that extend from the brain).
 Spinal nerves (nerves that extend from the spinal cord).
 Ganglia (clusters of neuron cell bodies located outside the
CNS).
 Together, the CNS and PNS perform three general
functions:
1. Collecting information.
2. Processing and evaluating information.
3. Responding to information.
Structural divisions of the nervous system
Functional divisions of the nervous system
 Sensory afferent division
 It receives sensory information (input) from receptors and
transmits this information to the CNS.
 Motor efferent division
 It transmits motor impulses (output) from the CNS to
muscles or glands (effector organs).
 Sensory afferent division
 Two components:
1. Somatic sensory components
 General somatic senses:
 Touch, pain, pressure, vibration, temperature,
proprioception.
 Special senses:
 Taste, vision, hearing, balance, smell.
2. Visceral sensory components
 It transmit nerve impulses from blood vessels and viscera
to the CNS.
 Visceral senses primarily include:
 Temperature, stretch (of the organ wall).
 Motor efferent division
 Two components:
1. Somatic motor component (somatic nervous system; SNS)
 It conducts nerve impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles.
 It also known as the voluntary nervous system.
2. Autonomic motor component (autonomic nervous system;
ANS)
 It Innervates:
 Internal organs.
 Regulates smooth muscle.
 Regulates cardiac muscle.
 Regulates glands.
 Also known as the visceral motor system or involuntary
nervous system.
 Nerve cells
 They are two distinct cell types:
1. Neurons
 Excitable cells.
 Initiate and transmit nerve impulses.
2. Glial cells
 Non excitable cells.
 Support and protect the neurons.
 Neuron
 Neuron is the functional and structural unit of central
nervous system.
 Characteristics of neuron
 Neurons have a high metabolic rate.
 Neurons have extreme longevity.
 Neurons typically are non-mitotic.
 Structure of neuron
 Cell body (soma, perikaryon).
 Dendrites.
 Axon.
 Functions of neuron
 Responsible for control,
information processing, storage,
retrieval and internal communication.
 Classifications of neurons
 Neurons are classified based on:
 Structural classification
 Functional classification
 Structural classification of neurons
1. According to the number of processes extending from
the cell body
 Unipolar neuron has a single process.
 Bipolar neurons have two processes.
 Pseudounipolar neuron have one process but divided into 2
 Multipolar neurons have three or more processes.
Structural classification of neurons
2. According to the shape of cell body
 Setallate cells.
 Pryamidal cells.
 Pyriform cells.
Structural classification of neurons
3. According to the length of their axon
 Golgi type I.
 They have long axons.
 Golgi type II.
 They have short axons.
Functional classification of neurons
 Sensory afferent neurons
 Transmit nerve impulses from receptor to CNS.
 Motor efferent neurons
 Transmit nerve impulses from CNS to effectors.
 Interneurons (association neurons)
 Facilitate communication between sensory and motor
neurons.
 Glial (neuroglia) cells
 Characteristics of glial cells
 They are occur within both the CNS and the PNS.
 They are smaller than neurons.
 They are capable of mitosis.
 They do not transmit nerve impulses.
 Function of glial cells
 Physically protect neurons.
 Helping to nourish neurons.
 Provide a supporting framework
for all the nervous tissue.
 Types of glial (neuroglia) cells
 Four types of glial cells are found in CNS
 Astrocyte.
 Oligodendrocyte.
 Microglia.
 Ependymal cell.

 Two types of glial cells are found in PNS

 Satellite cell.
 Neurolemmocyte
(Schwann cell).
 Synapses
 Synapse is the point of contact between the processes of
neurons.
 Types of synapses (based on contacts)
1. Axoaxonic synapse.
2. Axosomatic synapse.
3. Axodendritic synapse.
4. Dendrodendritic synapse.
 Central nervous system (CNS)
 Central nervous system consists of:
 Brain.
 Spinal cord.
 Central nervous system (CNS)
 It is formed of gray and white matters.
 The gray matter consists mainly of cell bodies of neurons
and unmyelinated nerve fibers, while the white matter
consists of bundles of myelinated nerve fibers.
 Brain
 Location
 It lies within the cranial cavity.
 Volume and weight of brain
 Average volume of 1200–1500 cc.
 Average weight of 1.35 to 1.4 kg.
 Parts of the brain
 Meninges of the brain
 Three connective tissue membranes which surround the
brain.
1. Dura mater.
2. Arachnoid mater.
3. Pia mater.
 Cranial meningeal spaces
1. Epidural space.
2. Subdural space.
3. Subarachnoid space is filled
with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
 Spinal cord
 The spinal cord is the long lower cylindrical part of the
central nervous system occupying the upper two-thirds of
the vertebral canal.
 Extension
 It extend from the lower end of
medulla oblongata to the lower
border of the first lumber vertebra.
 Length
 About 40-45 cm.
 Weight
 About 25-30 gm.
Structure of the spinal cord
 Meninges of the spinal cord
 Three connective tissue membranes which surround the
spinal cord
1. Dura mater.
2. Arachnoid mater.
3. Pia mater.
 Spaces between meninges of the spinal cord
1. Epidural (Extradural) space.
2. Subdural space.
3. Subarachnoid space is filled
with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
 Ventricular system
 It is the cavities of the brain and spinal cord.
 It includes:
 Lateral ventricles.
 Third ventricle.
 Cerebral aqueduct.
 Fourth ventricle.
 Central canal of spinal cord.
 It contains:
 Choroid plexus.
 CSF.
 Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
 Peripheral nervous system consists of:
 Cranial nerves (nerves that extend from the brain).
 Spinal nerves (nerves that extend from the spinal cord).
 Ganglia (clusters of neuron cell bodies located outside
the CNS).
 Cranial nerves
 It includes 12 pairs of nerves which are:
1.Olfactory nerve.
2. Optic nerve.
3. Oculomotor nerve.
4. Trochlear nerve.
5. Trigeminal nerve.
6. Abducent nerve.
7. Fascial nerve.
8. Vestibulocochlear nerve.
9. Glossopharyngeal nerve.
10. Vagus nerve.
11. Accessory nerve.
12. Hypoglossal nerve.
 Functions of cranial nerves
1. Olfactory nerve.
2. Optic nerve.
3. Oculomotor nerve.
4. Trochlear nerve.
5. Trigeminal nerve.
6. Abducent nerve.
7. Facial nerve.
8. Vestibulocochlear nerve.
9. Glossopharyngeal nerve.
10. Vagus nerve.
11. Accessory nerve.
12. Hypoglossal nerve.
 Spinal nerves
 31 pairs of nerves (8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar,
5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal).
 It connect the CNS to:
 Receptors.
 Muscles and glands.
 Each spinal nerve is mixed:
 Sensory axons originate from receptors.
 Motor axons originate from the spinal cord.
 Anterior root and posterior root unite
within the intervertebral foramen.
 Spinal nerve is associated with the
vertebra of the same number.
Spinal nerves
 Rami of spinal nerves
 Posterior (or dorsal) ramus
 Innervates muscles and skin of the back.
 Anterior (or ventral) ramus
 Largest branch.
 Forms plexuses.
 Innervates anterior
and lateral trunk,
upper and lower limbs.
 Nerve plexuses
Cervical plexuses Brachial plexuses
 Nerve plexuses
Lumbar plexuses Sacral plexuses
 Functional types of nerve fibers
 The nervous system contains:
1. General somatic fibers: supplying structure developed
from somites i.e whole body except the head.
 These fibers may be afferent (sensory) or efferent (motor).
2. General visceral fibers: supplying viscera i.e autonomic
system.
 These fibers may be afferent (sensory) or efferent (motor).
Somatic and visceral fibers
 Functional types of nerve fibers
 Therefore there are 4 types of nerve fibers:
1. General somatic afferent (GSA) fibers: carrying
general sensations from the skin, skeletal muscles and
joints i.e pain, temperature, touch and proprioception .
2. General somatic efferent (GSE) fibers: carrying motor
supply to the skeletal muscles.
3. General visceral afferent (GVA) fibers: carrying
visceral sensations (e.g. from GIT , blood vessels …etc).
4. General visceral efferent (GVE) fibers: (autonomic
fibers both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers) are
motor to smooth muscle of blood vessels and viscera and
secretomotor to exocrine glands.
 Functional types of nerve fibers
 In the region of the head , there are the organs of special
senses and structures developed from the visceral arches.
 These structures are supplied by special nerve fibers as
follows:
1. Special somatic afferent (SSA) fibers: are concerned
with sensations of vision, hearing and equilibrium.
2. Special visceral afferent (SVA) fibers: are concerned
with the sensation of taste and smell.
3. Special visceral efferent (SVE) fibers: are concerned
with the motor supply to the striated muscles developed
from the visceral arches i.e. muscles supplied by the 5 th,
7th, 9th,10th and 11th cranial nerves.
Structure of peripheral nerve trunk
 Ganglia
 A ganglion is a collection of body of nerve cells situated
outside the CNS.
 In contrast, a collection of body of nerve cells situated
inside the CNS is called nerve nucleus (e.g. nuclei of
cranial nerves).
 Ganglia are either sensory ganglia associated with the
spinal and cranial nerves (e.g. dorsal root ganglia), or
autonomic ganglia associated with the sympathetic or
parasympathetic nerves.
 Sensory ganglion
 It contains pseudo-unipolar neurons.
 It gives off a peripheral process and a central process with
no synapse.
 Autonomic ganglion
 It contains multipolar neurons with many dendrites.
 It is a relay station where the preganglionic fibers end,
and the postganglionic fibers arise.
 It includes:
 Sympathetic ganglia.
 Parasympathetic ganglia.
 Sympathetic trunks
 They are also called paravertebral ganglia.
 It located immediately lateral to the vertebral column.
 It house sympathetic ganglionic neuron cell bodies.
 It consists of number of ganglia which are:
 3 cervical ganglia.
 12 thoracic ganglia.
 4 lumbar ganglia.
 4 or 5 sacral ganglia.
 Anterior to the coccyx, the two sympathetic trunks join to
form a single small terminal ganglion (ganglion impar).
Sympathetic trunks
 White rami communicantes
 Connecting the spinal nerves to each sympathetic trunk.
 It carry preganglionic sympathetic axons from the T1–L2
spinal nerves to the sympathetic trunk.
 It associated only with the T1–L2 spinal nerves.
 Gray rami communicantes
 It carry postganglionic sympathetic axons from the
sympathetic trunk to the spinal nerve.
 It connect to all spinal nerves.
 Sympathetic information that starts in the thoracolumbar
region can be dispersed to all parts of the body.
 Splanchnic nerves
 It composed of preganglionic sympathetic axons.
 It arises from the sympathetic trunk and terminate in
prevertebral ganglia.
 Larger splanchnic nerves have specific names:
 Greater thoracic splanchnic nerves.
 Lesser thoracic splanchnic nerves.
 Least thoracic splanchnic nerves.
 Lumbar splanchnic nerves.
 Sacral splanchnic nerves.
Splanchnic nerves
 Prevertebral ganglia
 It also called collateral or preaortic ganglia.
 They are single structures, rather than paired.
 They are anterior to the vertebral column around the
major abdominal arteries and are named for these arteries.
 Prevertebral ganglia includes:
 Celiac ganglion.
 Aorticorenal ganglion.
 Superior mesenteric ganglion.
 Inferior mesenteric ganglion.
 Parasympathetic ganglia
 Parasympathetic ganglia are mostly sited distant from the
CNS, either in discrete ganglia located near the structures
innervated or dispersed in the walls of viscera.
 In the cranial part of the parasympathetic system there are
four small peripheral ganglia which are:
 Ciliary ganglion.
 Pterygopalatine ganglion.
 Submandibular ganglion.
 Otic ganglion.
 Pelvic splanchnic nerves
 It composed of preganglionic parasympathetic axons
arises from the S2,S3,S4 which contribute to the superior
and inferior hypogastric plexuses.
 The preganglionic parasympathetic axons that emanate
from each plexus project to the ganglionic neurons within
either the terminal or intramural ganglia.
 Autonomic nervous system
 It complex system of nerves.
 It controls involuntary actions.
 Function of the autonomic nervous system
 Regulates body organs.
 Maintains normal internal functions.
 Divisions of the autonomic nervous system
 Sympathetic system.
 Parasympathetic system.
 Sympathetic system
 It also termed the thoracolumbar division.
 It primarily concerned with preparing the body for
emergencies.
 It referred to as the “fight-or-flight”.
Sympathetic pathways
Sympathetic pathways
Sympathetic pathways
Types of sympathetic pathways
 Parasympathetic system
 It also termed the craniosacral division.
 It primarily concerned with:
 Conserving energy.
 Replenishing nutrient stores.
 It is most active when the body is at rest or digesting a
meal and thus has been nicknamed the “rest-and-digest”.
Parasympathetic pathways
Neurotransmitters used in the
autonomic nervous system
 Autonomic plexuses
 It collections of sympathetic postganglionic axons and
parasympathetic preganglionic axons, as well as some
visceral sensory axons.
 It close to one another, but they do not interact or synapse
with one another.
 It provide a complex innervation pattern to their target
organs.
 Autonomic plexuses
 Cardiac plexus.
 Pulmonary plexus.
 Abdominal aortic plexus.
 Hypogastric plexus.
Comparison between SNS and ANS
Comparison between SNS and ANS
 Dual innervation
 Many visceral effectors have dual innervation, meaning
that they are innervated by postganglionic axons from
both autonomic nervous system divisions.
 The actions of the divisions usually oppose each other,
and so they are said to exert antagonistic effects on the
same organ.
 Examples of dual innervation include the following:
 Control of pupillary diameter.
 Control of digestive system activities.
 Control of heart rate.
 In some autonomic nervous system effectors, opposing
effects are achieved without dual innervation.
 For example, many blood vessels are innervated by
sympathetic axons only.
 Reflexes
 Reflexes are rapid, automatic, involuntary reactions of
muscles or glands to a stimulus.
 All reflexes have similar properties:
 A stimulus.
 A rapid response.
 An automatic response.
 An involuntary response.
 A reflex is a survival mechanism; it allows us to quickly
respond to a stimulus that may be detrimental to our well
being without having to wait for the brain to process the
information.
 Components of a reflex arc
 A reflex arc is the neural “wiring” of a single reflex.
 It always begins at a receptor in the PNS, communicates
with the CNS, and ends at a peripheral effector, such as a
muscle or gland cell.
 Five steps are involved in a simple reflex arc.
 Reflex arcs
 Reflex arcs may be ipsilateral or contralateral.
 Reflexes may also be monosynaptic or polysynaptic.
 A monosynaptic reflex is the simplest of all reflexes.
 Examples of spinal reflexes
 Withdrawal (flexor) reflex.
 Stretch reflex.
 Golgi tendon reflex.
Example of autonomic reflexes
Glossary of nervous system structures
Thank you